How to Configure a Macintosh Computer for Internet Access

ID: Q181767

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer for Macintosh

SUMMARY

This article describes how to configure a Macintosh computer to connect to the Internet through an Internet service provider (ISP) using Internet Explorer 4.0.


MORE INFORMATION

To connect your computer to the Internet using Internet Explorer, the following hardware and software is required:

  • A Macintosh with 68030 or later processor


  • System 7.1 or later (System 7.6 recommended)


  • 8 megabytes (MB) of RAM


  • 7 MB of hard disk space for a minimum installation, 15 MB of hard disk space for a full installation


  • A modem (28.8 or faster recommended)


  • MacTCP or Open Transport 1.1.1 or later (extension)


  • A point-to-point protocol (PPP) dialer (for example, OT/PPP, ConfigPPP, or FreePPP)


  • An account with an ISP


  • Internet Explorer for Macintosh


Getting Started

To connect to the Internet, you need a PPP or SLIP account with an ISP and the following account information:

  • User name


  • Password


  • Access phone number


Your ISP may provide additional information, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address and an IP subnet mask. These optional items are needed only if your provider gives you a dedicated IP address to use every time you dial in. In addition, your ISP may provide a Domain Name Service (DNS) server address.

These steps describe how to configure your modem, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Point-to-Point protocol (PPP) settings to connect to the Internet.

For Macintosh Operating System versions 8.0 and 8.1:

Run the Internet Setup Assistant in the Internet folder.

For more information about the Internet Setup Assistant, Contact Apple Computer Inc.

For Macintosh Operating System 7.6 and earlier, follow these steps in the following sections.

Configuring Your Modem

To configure your modem for use with your Macintosh, follow these steps:
  1. On the Apple menu, click Control Panels.


  2. Click Modem, and then click the port to which the modem is connected.


  3. Click your modem.

    NOTE: If your modem is not listed, you must install the appropriate drivers for your modem. To obtain these drivers, please contact your modem manufacturer.


  4. Click either On or Off to turn modem sounds on or off.


  5. Click either Tone or Pulse for tone or pulse dialing.


  6. Close the Modem control panel.


How you complete the next set of steps depends on how your TCP/IP address is assigned by your ISP. For the information needed in this section, please contact your ISP.

Configuring the TCP/IP Protocol for Your ISP

To configure TCP/IP for your ISP, follow these steps:

  1. On the Apple menu, click Control Panels.


  2. Click TCP/IP, click File, and then click Configurations.


  3. Click Default in the list of available configurations.


  4. Click Duplicate, type the name for your ISP, and then click OK.


  5. Click the configuration with your ISP's name, and then click Make Active.


  6. In the Connect Via box, click PPP.


Configuring TCP/IP for DHCP Servers

To configure TCP/IP for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), follow these steps:
  1. In the Configure box, click Using DHCP Server.

    NOTE: If your DNS server addresses are assigned using DHCP, skip to step 5. If your Domain Naming Services (DNS) server addresses must be specified manually, please follow these steps. For information about how your DNS server addresses are configured, contact your ISP.


  2. On the Edit menu, click User Mode.


  3. Click Advanced, and then click OK.


  4. In the Name Server Address box, type the IP address for your DNS server.


  5. Close the TCP/IP control panel and save the changes.


Configuring Static TCP/IP Addresses

To configure TCP/IP for a static IP configuration, follow these steps:
  1. In the Configure box, click Manually, and then type your IP address in the IP Address box.


  2. In the Subnet Mask box, type your subnet mask.


  3. In the Router Address box, type your default gateway address.


  4. In the Name Server Address box, type your DNS server address, and then close the TCP/IP control panel and save the changes.


Configuring a PPP Connection

To configure PPP for your ISP, follow these steps:
  1. On the Apple menu, click Control Panels.


  2. Click PPP, click File, and then click Configurations.


  3. Click Default in the list of available configurations, and then click Duplicate.


  4. Type the name for your ISP, and then click OK.


  5. Click the configuration with your ISP's name, and then click Make Active.


  6. Click Registered User, and then type your Internet account user name in the Name box.


  7. In the Password box, type your Internet account password.

    NOTE: Click Save password if you want to have your password saved.


  8. In the Number box, type the phone number for your ISP, and then close the PPP control panel and save the changes.


Additional query words:

Keywords : kbenv kbtool msiemac
Version : MACINTOSH:
Platform : MACINTOSH
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: August 20, 1999
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